Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) - user opinions and reviews
- Arbaz
- D01
AnonD-656598, 24 Apr 2017J7 prime or a5 2016?? Urgent reply please. Am a heavy gamer on a budget btw. Thanks A5 2016 is the best cell ever
- AnonD-542833
- gM$
AnonD-656598, 24 Apr 2017J7 prime or a5 2016?? Urgent reply please. Am a heavy gamer on a budget btw. Thanks If you are a heavy gamer than choose either Mi or Lenevo device with Snapdragon/Adreno SOC. J7 prime supports normal to moderate gaming. And A5 (2106) heats up in normal usage and poor battery life. So it is better to go for other brands if you are a very heavy gamer. Regards.
- AnonD-656598
- r3H
J7 prime or a5 2016?? Urgent reply please. Am a heavy gamer on a budget btw. Thanks
- Anonymous
- 0I3
what do you think about this phone's design?is it beautfiul or ugly?
- sachin
- yp1
I got samsung A5 2016 from UAE. But it does not support volte in UAE versions. Plz help. is there anyway to unlock Volte..???
- Bari24
- BNe
Hi everyone. Can anybody suggest me how to make reappear my photos from SD card to my gallery. Same with the music on my phone songs. I used the term reappear because before they exist on both apps. Only few days before, they'really all gone. Hope someone can tell me how. Thanks in advance
- Apolodor
- 0Up
AnonD-661962, 15 Apr 2017After using the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 for a year, this is my 'review', I do not guarantee acc... moreAfter I set my games to non-game in game tuner, games are back!!! I don't have any massive drops anymore. Thx mate. This phone is amazing but this problem pissed me so hard.
- Apolodor
- 0Up
AnonD-661962, 15 Apr 2017After using the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 for a year, this is my 'review', I do not guarantee acc... moreDo you have any problems with games like frame drops since androis 6.0??? I loved mine until 6.0 came and games became laggy.
- AnonD-661962
- fsT
After using the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 for a year, this is my 'review', I do not guarantee accuracy. This phone was dropped, has a "stock" permissive kernel, versions are a510fxxu3bpid, a510fxxu3bpi1, a510foxy3bpi2, SM-A510FD, screen was manufactured at 2016, 01, 04 (time is stored at a resolution higher than a millisecond), modem at 16/01/23. I might not include what is already covered by other reviews. The "pros" of this phone depend on the hardware you are comparing relative to.
Specs.
CPU cluster 0 at 400 - 1600MHz Interactive
CPU cluster 1 at 400 - 1600MHz Interactive
Mali-T72x MP2 r1p0 0x0720 GPU at 266 - 800MHz Interactive
bus_int at 100 - 400MHz simple_ondemand
bus_mif at 200 - 825MHz simple_ondemand
bus_isp at 200 - 530MHz simple_ondemand
SDC_400013 S6E3FA3 FHD AMOLED panel U:1080x1920p-59
ROHM OIS gyro (A8BIK01 V005?)
Bosch BHA250 accelerometer
YAMAHA YAS537 magnetic sensor
Capella Microsystems CM36655 light, RGB, proximity
Universal7580-I2S, cod3022x, s2801x for sound
Broadcom BCM4345 WiFi/Bluetooth
Broadcom BCM4752 GPS
SM5705 for charging
Abov Semiconductor mc96ft1804 for the capacitive buttons?
Zinitix BT532 for the touchscreen
S2MPU03 voltage regulator
s2m RTC, max_user_freq 64
MAX86902 (not created?)
s2mu003(not created?)
PPSX60 (not created?)
Shannon 310 S310AP with these carrier aggregation combinations:
3C(A)_, 7C(A)_, 3A-7A(A-n)_, 3A-7A(n-A)_, 3A-20A(A-n)_, 3A-20A(n-A)_, 7A-20A(A-n)_, 7A-20A(n-A)_, bands are known.
MMC 400073.
SLSI_S5K5E3_FIMC_IS front camera.
SLSI_S5K3L2_FIMC_IS rear camera.
Thermometer: Samsung sec-ap-thermistor
Thermometer: thermal-cpufreq-0
Thermometer: thermal-cpufreq-1
Thermometer: thermal-gpufreq-0
Thermometer: batt_temp
Thermometer: sm5705
Check the kernel for more information.
Technologies related to performance.
Touchboost: 1200MHz touch, 1400MHz multitouch, 1000MHz until release, 1600MHz rotation, 1600MHz launch, 1200MHz unlock, 1500MHz activity resume on cores that are online.
GPU Hotplugging: with default power_policy coarse_demand.
CPU Hotplugging: 8 cores, 4 cores, 2 cores, 1 core.
Automatic underclock of the CPU to 1100MHz and the GPU to 350MHz if the app being used is detected as a game and is not in this list: line 2473850 - 2475970 of /system/framework/oat/arm/services.odex or the dalvik cache, without processing. Mostly benchmarks, system apps, browsers, and games. Because those 'stock clocks' are difficult to return even though the CPU/GPU has cooled, this is for battery saving.
Set an app as non-game in the Game Tuner for less of this underclocking ("non-game" looks like thermal throttling, you can also lower the resolution).
The CPU can reach 86C (AnTuTu, and maybe after wiping dalvik cache), it is throttled by the step_wise thermal throttling governor in the kernel, it is not the "CustomFrequencyManagerService", maybe it requires time or uses another sensor. CPU has 12 states, GPU has 7.
Having the battery over 40C is difficult, but I wouldn't have this phone under a pillow during many benchmarks.
If the underclocking of the CustomFrequencyManagerService / Touchwiz DVFS is prevented with root, check those temperature sensors, if those temperatures are high, underclock the CPU (standard) and the GPU (write to /sys/class/misc/mali0/device/dvfs_max_lock).
With 1100/350 the AnTuTu benchmark result is 31583 (3132, 1713, 1419; 11797, 3232, 1707, 1956, 2887, 2015; 11907, 1949, 3841, 6117; 4747); 3DMark Ice Storm is 4347 (3868, 7666, 17, 16.6, 24.3).
Resolution is by default 810x1440 in detected games (75% of the native resolution). Could change with Game Tuner.
Etc.
With the newer Android telephony API the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 will show these:
GSM: rat, mcc, mnc, cid (maybe 65535).
GSM Invalid: signal strength, ber, arfcn, bsic, cid.
UMTS: rat, mcc, mnc, lac(maybe 0), cid(maybe 1 and ascending), psc.
UMTS Invalid: uarfcn, signal strength.
LTE: rat, mcc, mnc, cid(LTE), pci, tac, asu, rsrp, rsrq, rssnr, cqi, ta(only use if it updates).
LTE Invalid: earfcn. After a handover from 4G to 3G/2G to 4G on a different cell, the old cell might be remembered by the phone with its valid signal strength, but this information has an invalid CQI. The older telephony API shows less but more accurate information, but it might not refresh automatically. To use it in most apps, insert main sim as sim 1 or 2 and another sim; set other sim as default for calls, sms, 4G3G2G; reboot; remove other sim; the main sim will be set as default; disable other sim to prevent sharing of signal strength; the phone is ready. The RIL service mode has cells separated with [1][2][3], which sets the "do not need refresh", maybe it is the same for other applications. Those are mostly used to locate without WiFi or GPS.
The RIL service mode includes RAT(2G, 4G) locking; band locking (2G); band preference (4G); band disable (4G); band, arfcn locking (2G), band, uarfcn, psc locking (3G); band, earfcn, pci locking (4G); neighbour list (no cids); basic information, etc.
To apply the arfcn lock, the menu must be on stack 1, apply and restart the airplane mode.
To apply the pci lock, enable airplane mode, apply, reboot, disable airplane mode.
Do not apply with interference from other cells, even if the bts you are connected to is congested or connected to a congested or slow backhaul. Its only use is to read the cid and ta from other cells?
The AMOLED shows a lower variety of brightness when a pixel is at a low brightness.
Vertical banding?
The screen and fingerprint sensor is sensitive, with very low tolerance.
After removing Smart Manager it was also removed from the settings app, very seamless.
Wear
Burn-in is visible for the status bar with fullscreen blue, but it is almost invisible in full screen apps.
Battery wear, depends on usage.
Volume buttons might get stuck, like the s6 and the s7.
The phone had to have a few disconnections and reconnections to quick charge, a combination of OTG and quick charging disabled USB functionality (Odin, MTP, quick charge, ADB). The accelerometer and the normal charging are OK.
No "screen flicker at low brightness" problem.
- AnonD-342429
- 6Qg
AnonD-542833, 14 Apr 20172 GB RAM and 16 GB RAM is enough for normal use. But not for games which uses big download suc... moreI have installed many heavy games. Asphalt 8. Never alon:ki edition. UFC etc
Still have 2.5gb free internal space and 5gb free of 16gb sd card. Games are running smoothly. Apps are running perfectly. Even, if i open all the apps simultaneously. To make the sd card adaptable you will have to root your phone. I tried to make adaptable without rooting but it didn't work.
- AnonD-342429
- 6Qg
AnonD-649787, 14 Apr 2017I have checked out all these devices but the thing is i dont like big screen phones, 5.2" is b... moreSamsung a5 is better than s6. If you make some modifications in the rom. You will have to make sd card adaptable by rooting. But u must use at least class 10 sd card if you want smooth performance. Battery is superb as compared to s6. Camera is nearly equal to s6. A5 2016 has no mirror option if you need this option.
- Anonymous
- smp
Some smartphones may come with high specs at an affordable price but beware the quality offered in these mobile phones leaves a lot to be desired think twice before buying a smartphone these days,on paper the specs are high but real issue stands in hand use how strong and compact these devices are.
- AnonD-649787
- ITJ
AnonD-542833, 14 Apr 2017At that 300$ budget you have a very wide choice. If you need a device for heavy gaming than yo... moreI have checked out all these devices but the thing is i dont like big screen phones, 5.2" is big enough so my options are limited. Plus, i want to buy a Samsung phone. How about a used S6? Will it's battery cause problems??
- AnonD-542833
- gM$
AnonD-649787, 14 Apr 2017So which Phone would you suggest me in the 250-300$ price range, then??At that 300$ budget you have a very wide choice. If you need a device for heavy gaming than you should go for Mi or Moto or Lenevo devices. But as I use only Samsung devices I cannot say real uses of those devices. Alternatively you can try Samsung C9 pro which looks very strong on specs. Last but not least J7 Prime 32 GB version will also be a good choice if it supports the game you want to play. Regards.
- Anonymous
- smp
AnonD-542833, 14 Apr 20172 GB RAM and 16 GB RAM is enough for normal use. But not for games which uses big download suc... moreThats not true most google store apps run good enough without any lag
- Anonymous
- smp
AnonD-649787, 14 Apr 2017So you mean to say that the 2GB RAM and 16 gb storage will be enough for everyday normal use a... moreGood enough for everyday usage and light gaming. If you have enough budget go for a5 2017 if you are a hardcore gamer.
- AnonD-649787
- ITJ
AnonD-542833, 14 Apr 20172 GB RAM and 16 GB RAM is enough for normal use. But not for games which uses big download suc... moreSo which Phone would you suggest me in the 250-300$ price range, then??
- AnonD-542833
- gM$
AnonD-649787, 14 Apr 2017So you mean to say that the 2GB RAM and 16 gb storage will be enough for everyday normal use a... more2 GB RAM and 16 GB RAM is enough for normal use. But not for games which uses big download such as EA games. Currently I am playing NFS No Limit on my J7 pro which has 16 GB ROM and I left with just about 1.5 GB ROM which is minimum to run Android smoothly. So I will suggest to to go for at least 3 GB RAM, Snapdargon processor and 32 GB ROM g gaming which is now very affordable. Regards.
- AnonD-649787
- uZa
Anonymous, 13 Apr 2017I think A3 looks faster because of latest software optimization, samsung midrange smartphones... moreSo you mean to say that the 2GB RAM and 16 gb storage will be enough for everyday normal use and light gaming such as FIFA Mobile on the A3(2017)??
Tip us
882k
147k NEW!
630k
RSS
Log in I forgot my password Sign up